Improvement in combined shirt and braces



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

WILLIAM ISI. TOWERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENII IN COMBINED SHIRT AND BRACES..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,289., dated October3, 1865.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. TowEEs, ot the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Shirt, or a new Improvementin Shirts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a partof this specication, in which- Figure l is a front view ofthe improvedshirt, showing Jthe whole arrangement of the same; and Fig. 2 is theback view of the shirt.

A represents the body of thebshirt; a a., the front straps; b, the backstrap; o c c', the waistband-straps; d, the waistband; e, the slot inthe back ot' the shirt; j' f, slots in the front of the shirt; g g,buckles on straps c c; h, buckle on strap c.

Now, in order that others may better understand the nature and use of myinvention and be enabled to construct the same, I will proceed todescribe its mode ot' construction and its use and advantages.

I take a common shirt made of any material of which shirts are made. Icut and make the same in the usual way of making shirts, with exceptionswhich I will now describe.

Referring to Fig. l in the accompanying` drawings, it will be perceivedthat there are straps issuing from the slots ff, which are buckled ontothe waistband straps. Dotted lines will also be perceived on the trontof the shirt, passing up to the yoke ot' the same. 'Ihesedotted linesrepresent straps in the inner side of the shirt, which are sewed orfastened on rmly into the seam of the yoke, and are united in one strapissuing` from the slot, as seen in the igure. These straps are made ofcloth or any suitable material, and may be fastened into the seam at theyoke and left loose to be drawn through the slot; or they may befastened or sewed to the shirt where the dotted lines mark the same, asfar as the slot. The straps fastened to the waistband are like theordinary suspenderstraps, and are made of elastic material, or may bemade of any suita- Iole material. In Fig. 2 will also be seen the dottedlines passing up to the yoke of the shirt, the strap 1)issuin g from theslot e, buckled onto the waistbandstraps in the same manner as seen inFig. l.

rIhe waistband mentioned above of course refers to the waistband of thepautaloons, and these various straps connected and fastened to thewaistband of the pantaloons answer the purpose ot' suspenders. Indeed,this mode of fastening or holding up pantaloons is easier and moreconvenient than thc ordinary mode. The shirtis apt to hunch up,77especially when one is warm but this arrangement keeps it down smooth,anditkeeps the bosom smoothly in its place, and also answers a doublepurpose by supporting the pantaloons; also, when the straps areunbuckled in front or rear, the straps a a or b'will not be drawn upover the shoulder, as the suspender is liable to be. It also relievesthe shoulders from the hot and uncomfortable Suspenders, which many areunable to wear at all, and which soon become soiled and unsightly fromperspiration or other causes. The strain upon the shoulders of the shirtis even and uniform, and is scarcely to be felt, while the strapsattached to the waistband, being' made'of elastic material, will preventany undue strain or tear upon the cloth or material.

As to the mode of fastening the straps, represented by the dotted linesin both gures, in the inner side ot' the shirt, I claim no particularmode of fastening or form ofthe straps. What are represented `in thefigures by dotted lines as two straps, and between the dotted lines, maybe one entire piece of cloth or other material.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A. shirt provided with straps intended to take the place of Suspenders,substantially in the manner above described, and for the purpose setforth.

WM. H. TOWERS.

Vitnesses:

J. L. NEWTON, T. H. SWEE'rsER.

